Hodgkinson 

Narrative  of  his  Connection  with 
the  Old  American  Company 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


NARRATIVE 


OS    HIS 


CONNECTION 


WITH    T'lE 


OLD  AMERICA.     COMPANY, 

FROM  THE  FIFTH  SEPTEMBER,   1792, 
TO    THE    THIRTY-FIRST   OF    MARCH,    1797, 

BY  JOHN  HODGKINSON. 


BY   J.  ORAM,    XO.  33, 


NARRATIVE,    &c. 


ON  the  29th  of  March  I  was  prevented  from  going 
on  with  my  Character  for  the  Evening,  by  a  Part 
of  the  Audience  calling  for  Mrs.  Hallam,  formerly  an 
Aftrefs  in  the  Company,  but  who,   for  Reafons  which 
will  hereafter  appear,   was   no  longer    under  any  En 
gagements.     Mrs.  Hallam,  contrary  to  the  Regulations 
of  the  Theatre,   and  to  an  exprefs  Article    figned  by 
Mr.  HaHam,  came  through  the  private  Door  into  the 
Theatre,  and,   on  the  Stage,   where  me  was  fupported 
by  Mr.  Hallam,  a  Performer  and  principal  Proprietor  of 
the  Theatre,  who  addrefled  the  Audience,  and  obtained 
Permifiion  for  her  to  read  a  Paper  intended  for  their 
hearing ;  the  Purport  of  which  was,  a  Complaint  of  having 
been  driven  unjuftly  from  the  Stage,  after  having  been  ten 
Years  on  it,  without  any  fuffitient  Caufe  ;  intimating  all 
this  had  been  effected  by  my  Agency.    In  the  Confufion 
which   followed,   I  was  not   allowed  to  juftify   myfelf. 
After  fome  Time,  I  fubmitted,  engaging  to  exculpate 
myfelf  by  a  Publication  in  the  Papers,  or  elfewhere. 

THE  Proceedings  of  this  Evening,  in  Connection  with 
what  had  patted  in  the  Courfe  of  the  Winter,  left  no 
Room  to  doubt  of  Concert  between  fome  of  the  Spec 
tators  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hallam. 

ON  the  3 1 ft,  a  ftill  larger  Party  attended  the  Repre- 
fentation  at  the  Theatre,  with  an  apparent  Determination 
to  prejudge  and  condem  me.  Marks  of  this  Determi 
nation  were  fo  renew'd  and  repeated,  that  I  thought  it  no 
longer  pofilble  for  me  to  continue  on  the  Stage.  It  re 
mains  for  me  to  fulfil  my  Engagement  with  the  Public  : 
For  thisEurpofe  I  fnall  exhibit  a  brief  Narrative  of  my 
whole  Connection  with  the  American  Theatres.  The 

Refuk 


[     4     1 

Refult  will  mew,  that  fo  far  from  having  conducted  un- 
juftly  towards  Mrs.  Hallam,  and  the  Public,  in  Regard 
to  her,  that  Ihe  has  been  the  Source  of  the  principal 
Troubles  which  have  arifen  :  that  my  Conduct  in  this 
Refpect,  at  leaft,  has  been  becoming  my  Situation,  and 
that  it  is  I,  and  not  me  or  Mr.  Hallam,  who  have  been 
injured  on  the  prefent  Occafion. 

I  was  engaged  from  one  of  the  firft  Theatres  in  Eng 
land,  by  the  late  Mr.  Jchn  Henry,  as  a  principal  Per 
former  for  the  New- York  and  Philadelphia  Theatres, 
and  arrived  in  this  Country  September  5th,  1792.  An 
Idea  inftilled  into  me,  that  every  Article  of  Life  was  full 
as  cheap  again  here  as  there,  made  me  accept  a  more 
moderate  Salary  than  I  mould  have  done,  had  I  been 
rightly  informed.  I  was  to  remain  for  two  Years  and 
fix  Months,  at  three  Guineas  and  a  Half  weekly  ;  to  be 
fccured  to  me  for  ten  Months  in  the  Year.  This  Con 
tract  I  fulfilled  on  my  Part,  though  violated  in  feveral 
Inflances  by  the  Managers,  Hallam  and  Henry,  and  eleven 
Weeks  of  Salary  due  at  this  Hour  to  me  and  my  Family 
fro ,11  them,  on  my  original  Agreements. 

I  found  the  Theatre  under  Regulations  widely  dif 
ferent  from  my  Expectations  ;  the  Managers  and  their 
Families  did  not  know  each  other  out  of  the  Profeflion  ; 
and  when  they  met  in  it,  their  whole  Study  feemed  to 
be  the  fowing  Diflcntions  and  creating  different  Interefts 
— a  Syftem  of  Government  avowed  and  recommended 
by  Mr.  Hallam.  The  Confequence  of  this  was  Neg 
ligence,  Party,  and  Strife.  I  foon  was  given  to  under- 
ftand  that  this  had  ah-jays  been  the  Cafe.  Mr.  Henry' % 
Conclua  and  Behaviour  feemed  fo  different  from  the 
Gentleman,  I  had  converted  with  in  England,  that  I 
could  not  avoid  forming  Prejudices  againft  him,  and  in 
favour  of  Hallam.  This  Mr.  Henry  law,  and  took  an 
Opportunity  of  telling  me  I  misjudg'd  him  j  and  that 
Mr.  Hallam,  though  appearing  perfectly  mild  and  c«in- 
ciid,  v  gave  him  every  Difqui-  r  aru!  "vlilervj  and 

had  utterly  broke  his  Temper.  The  Want  of  Unani 
mity 


[    5    1 

mky  at  laft  extended  to  a  total  Subversion  of  all  Order: 
Pieces  were  given  out,  and  no  Manager  attended  to  point 
a  fmgle  Direction.  The  Orcheftra  was  compofed  of 
about  fix  Muficians,  fome  of  whom  were  incapable  of 
their  Bufmefs;  and  had  I  not  been  induced  by  Confider- 
ations  for  my  own  Reputation  as  an  Actor,  to  take  Care 
that  the  Stage  Department  was  not  totally  deftroyed 
where  I  was  concern 'd,  this  neglect  would  have  been  more 
apparent  than  it  was !  Notwithftanding  my  Exertions, 
the  Theatre  was  nearly  deferted.  Mr.  Henry  faid  he 
could  not  exiil  under  fuch  Torment  longer,  and  offered 
to  fell  his  Share  of  the  Property.  I  urged  Mr.  Hallam  to 
negotiate  for  it,  and  offered  to  become  aPurchafer  after 
ward  from  him,  and  that  I  would  undertake  the  conduct 
ing  of  the  Theatre.  The  Terms  of  Sale  were  left  for 
Mr.  Hal/am  to  arrange  with  a  Friend  of  Mr.  Henry's; 
and  at  this  Period  I  law  a  Letter  of  his,  requefling  a 
fpeedy  End  to  the  Bufinefs ;  for  that,  fooner  than  be 
concerned  any  longer  where  Mrs.  Hallam  was,  he  would 
tranfport  fiimfelf  to  Btotany  Bay.  I  deemed  this  the  Effect 
of  violent  Anger  »r  Prejudice,  and  fuffered  it  to  make 
no  Impreffion  on  my  Mind  at  the  Time. 

IN  the  Month  of  May,  1794,  Mr.  Henry  fold  to  Mr. 
Hallam  all  his  Share  of  the  theatrical  Property  within  the 
United  States  of  America,  for  .£4000,  payable  by  four 
annual  Initalments  of  £  icoo  each. 

IN  the  fame  Month,  I  purchafed  from  Lewis  Hallam 
one  Half  the  Property  of  the  Old  American  Company 
within  the  United  States,  for  £  4000,  payable  by  four 
annual  Inftalments  of  £  1000  each. 

DURING  the  Summer,  I  endeavoured  to  make  fuch  Ad 
ditions  to  the  Company  as  were  neceffary;  and  on  the 
22d  of  September  commenced  my  unfortunate  Career  as  a 
Manager  and  Proprietor  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia.  On 
the  2oth  October,  Mrs.  Hdlam  performed  Lady  Racketf, 
in  too  degraded  a  State  to  be  feen  ;  and  on  obferving  that 
fome  of  the  Ladies  of  the  Theatre  noticed  her  Situation, 
gave  them  ill  Language,  and  finifhed  with  this  ExprefTion 
— «  Wretches  teat  I  iupport  by  my  Labours!" 


October,  in  a  violent  Fit  of  Intern- 
was  quarreling  with  Mr.  Ajhton, 

a  Mem  I  he  Company;  and  as  the  Performance  of 

n  Wild  O.':s,"  was  then  proceeding,  I  mildly  interfered, 
and  begged  her  for  the  Prefent  to  treat  whatever  the 
iicr  was  as  not  worth  her  Notice.  She  immediately 
commenced  a  ftrain  of  Inveclive  and  Abufe,  fuch  as  I 

>\  never  heard,  or  ever  did  expect  to  hear,  from  the 
Mouth  of  a  Female:  Rejcc.ll  Scoundrel!  Swindler  of  her 
I  lufband's  Property!  and  other  Epithets  equally  unjuft, 
for  two  Hours  v/ns  I  baited  with ;  and  during  the  Per 
formance  of  the  After-piece,  '•  Don  Juan/'  every  Mock 
and  Ridicule  that  could  be  was  cafb  on  my  Endeavours 
to  conduct  lb  troublefome  a  Pantomime  to  its  Clofe. 
Some  of  the  Performers  then  with  us,  ftill  remain. 

ON  the  Morning  of  the  2801,  I  wrote  Mr.  Hallc.m  a 
Let:t:r  to  the  following;  Effect :  "  That  having  taken 

^J  O 

twelve  Hours  to  paufe  on  the  unmerited  Treatment  I 
had  received,  I  muft  beg  to  decline  any  further  official 
Capacity  in  the  Old  American  Company  :  obferving, 
that  the  Property  had  been  lb  little  a  T^rne  in  my  Hands; 
Mr.  Plallan  could  receive  no  Inconveniency  by  accept- 

it  back  en  the  fame  Terms  I  had  purchs.fed  ;  that 
I  hud  no  \Yifh  to  diirrefs  him  by  an  immediate  Re- 

^ai,  b'.it  would  itry  \virh  him  upon  the  Fulfilment  of 

my  cri  !ic.s  to  the   Expiration  of  them, 

:h'_  fbllowing  York  Seaibn."     To 

tliis  Letter  Mr.  Hallam  wrote  the  following; : 


b 


"  Dear  Sir, 

'*  I  cannot  anfwer  you — I  have  not  clofed  my  Eyes 
"  from  the  Circiv.  01  lafl  Night — Will  you  meet 

•/  Tavern,  and  we  will  dine  alone  ?" 

,  to  the  Theatre,  to  conduct  the  Re- 
Time  after  my  Arrival  there 
;e  from  Mrs.  Hallam — that  me  was  at 
i  .--erne.     I  returned  for  anfwer, 

I 


[     7     ] 

I  was  at  the  Theatre,  and  could  not  attend  Mrs.  Hatiam. 
She  fent  my  Servant  back  to  fay  fne  muft  fee  me,  and  that 
if  I  would  not  wait  on  her  then,  (he  would  remain  till  I 
fhould  come  Home.  I  determined  on  feeing  her  :  She 
began  with  Tears,  a  very  ftrong  Apology  for  her  Con- 
dud,  and  faid  fne  was  utterly  ruined  with  Mr.  Hc.llam  if 
1  periifted  in  refigning  the  Property.  I  afked  her  if  me 
remembered  the  Events  of  the  preceding  Evening  ?  She 
replied,  me  had  no  Recollection  of  them,  and  that  my 
Letter  to  her  Hufband  was  a  Thunderbolt  to  her.  I 
repeated  the  Epithets  me  had  made  ufe  of,  and  fi\efe.emed 
very  much  fhock'd.  She  begged  my  forgetfulnefs  of  the 
pail,  folemnly  aflerting  me  mould  look  upon  herfcUf 
as  the  vcricft  Wretch  exifbing,  mould  me  ever,  by  fimikr 
Imprudence,  rifle  a  future  Mifunderflanding.  I  forgave 
her  fincerely,  and  we  parted.  I  dined  the  fame  Day  at 
a  Tavern,  with  Mr.  Hallatn,  according  to  his  Appoint 
ment,  who  feemed,  and  I  believe  was  moft  fejafibly  affect 
ed,  and  I  recollect  made  ufe  of  the  following  Expreffion : 
"  I  know  that  Girl  fo  well,  I'm  fure  me  never  will  for- 
"  give  herfelf,  or  drink  any  Thing  but  Water  as  long  as 
"  me  lives."  I  told  Mr.  Hallam,  it  was  a  Failing  that, 
if  not  put  an  effectual  Stop  to,  would  deftroy  every  Pof- 
fibility  of  my  Continuance  in  the  Company,  or  Manage 
ment.  I  proceeded,  as  ufual,  in  my  Capacity  of  Acting- 
Manager,  and  on  the  I4th  of  November  me  was  again 
intemperate  and  abufive  when  performing  Lady  Fan- 
court,  in  the  Comedy  of  "  Love's  Frailties."  My  Wife 
alfo  now  began  to  feel  the  Effects  of  her  Pride,  and  was 
frequently  treated  with  every  Contempt.  I  clofed  that 
Theatre  on  the  4th  of  December,  after  ten  Weeks  of 
woeful  managerial  Experience. 

I  commenced  in  New-York,  December  15th,  and 
on  the  2Oth  Mrs.  Hallam  was  again  in  a  State  which 
incapacitated  her  for  performing  Mifs  Wallingham,  in. 
the  <c  School  for  Wives,"  in  a  fuitable  Manner.  On 
the  apth  me  was  confiderably  worfe  in  the  Character  of 
Marianne,  in  the  "  Dramatift/'  On  the  5th  of  January, 


[     8     1 

1795'  we  "performed  "Percy,"  and  In  the  Fight  with 
Douglas,  I,  by  Accident,  cut  Mr.  Hallam^  Hand  :  Mrs. 
Hdllam  came  behind  the  Scenes  in  a  violent  Rage,  and 
on  being  afked  what  had  difturbed  her,  replied,  "  Why! 
that  damn'd  Butcher  has  cut  Mr.  H<llam  !"  On  the 
6th  of  January,  I  wrote  Mr.  Haliam  the  following  Letter : 

«  Sir, 

"  ON  ib  difagreeable  a  Bufmefs,  as  it  is  my  Duty  to 
"  come  to  a  perfe c~t  Explanation  with  you,  I  was  in  hope 
<c  I  might  gain  an  Opportunity  of  perfonal  Remon- 
"  flrance :  But  no — you  feem  to  fhun  me  !  I  had 
"  adopted  a  certainty  that  after  the  very  unmerited  and 
fc  illiberal  Language  heaped  on  my  by  Mrs.  Hallam,  in 
"  Philadelphia,  and  her  folemn  Oath,  I  never  mould 
te  hear  a  Repetition,  it  would  have  ceafed.  Why,  Sir,  am 
"  I  fo  frequently  the  Caufe  of  her  prefent  Vengeance  ? 
cc  And  why  do  you  not  take  Meafures  to  prevent  fuch 
"  Conduct  ?  Is  it  becaufe  every  Moment  of  my  Life  is 
ce  dedicated  to  promoting  our  mutual  Intereft  ?  Is  it  be- 
<c  caufe  I  am  incefTantly  ftudying  to  make  the  Theatre 
cc  refpectable,  and  increafe  your  Welfare  and  Profperity  ? 
"  Why,  Sir,  lad  Night,  for  an  Accident  of  trivial  Na- 
tc  ture,  had  I  the  very  delicate  Term  of  Butcher  applied 
"  to  me  ?  And  why,  a  few  Evenings  back  again,  that 
"  &f  Swindler  tm&RaJcal?,  Good  God,  Sir,  if  either 
c  have  a  Claim  on  the  other  for  Gratitude,  I  think  it  is 
t(  due  from  you,  and  that  your  Property  by  this  Time, 
(t  had  I  not  ftepped  in  and  prop'd  it,  would  have  fallen 
Ct  to  the  Ground.  It  becomes  no  Plea  to  aflert  that 
"  Reafon  has  no  Share  in  thefe  Declarations  :  They 
<l  are  private  Sentiments,  which  Reafon  fmoothers,  and 
"  that  banim'd,  the  Soul  is  thrown  open  undifguifed. 
'  I  feel  your  Situation,  Mr.  Hallam  :  I  am  cut  to  the 
c  Heart  to  fee  it,  but  I  cannot,  will  not,  remain  indif- 
c  ferent  to  my  own.  My  Wife,  Sir,  is  not  permitted 
£  nor  does  fhc  endeavour  or  wifh  to  know  more  of  Bu- 

**  finef% 


[     9     1 

cc  fmefs  than  I  cafualiy  communicate ;  and  as  I  cannot 
<f  compliment  Mrs.  Hallam  with  a  better  Plead  than  my 
"  own,  I  dont  think  me  can  fairly  judge  my  Actions, 
"  and  I  am  certain  you  ought  not  to  permit  her  •,  at  any 
"  Rate  I  will  not-,  and  I  think  it  but  honeft  to  inform 
<c  you,  the  next  Time  I  hear  her  make  Ufe  of  my 
"  Name  undeiervedly,  I  will  immediately  throw  up  the 
(f  Bufmefs,  and  call  the  Public  as  an  Umpire  bee  ween 
"  us.  Let  Mrs.  Hallam  vent  illiberal  Language  on  her 
cf  Dependants,  if  me  muftufe  it;  I  am  mm:  And  as  to 
"  the  Property  which  me  is  weak  enough  to  imagine  fo 
"  infallible,  I  would  rather  give  it  up  than  have  another 
"  Hour's  concern  where  me  is  or  will  be  a  Meddler. — 
tc  Sir,  we  are  a  City  Talk ;  and  it  would  certainly  be 
fc  better  to  endeavour  that  Mrs.  Hallam  mould  be  kept 
"  at  Home,  than  fufFered  to  expofe  us  and  herfelf,  when 
<f  fo  unfit  to  be  feen.  I  know,  Sir,  I  am  {peaking  in 
(<  plain  Terms;  I  think  it  my  Duty  to  do  fo.  Delica- 
<f  cy,  when  we  throw  apart  ourfelves,  we  cannot  expect 
f •  others  to  preferve  for  us :  *******  * 
«****#*#*•*•#***#*- 

cc    *###*•*•#*•##*####• 

"  Once  more,  Sir,  be  allured,  my  Friendmip  and  good 
"  Wifhes  are  undiminifhed  ;  fo  much  fo,  that  I  con-- 
<c  ceive  it  an  indifpenfable  Duty  to  ufe  no  Referve  ;  but, 
<c  pointing  out  the  Obftacles  that  deftroy  our  Harmony, 
fc  give  an  Opportunity  of  removing  them,  or  breaking 
"  the  Whole  at  once. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  fcfr.  &c. 

"  JOHN  HODGKINSON." 
flfato-fork, 

Jan.  6th,   1795. 

fidf"  There  is  an  Omiffion  in  the  Letter,  where  the  Stars  are.  The 
Part  left  out,  related  entirely  to  his  Son;  and  as  he  is  no  Way  impli 
cated  in  this  Controvert}-,  it  would  not  be  proper  to  mention  k. 

B  THIS 


[      10      ] 

THIS  Letter  I  received  no  Anfwer  to,  but  was  in 
formed  Mr.  Hallam  feemed  much  concerned  onperufmg 
-it.  On  the  loth  of  January,  Mrs.  Hallam  (again  in  a 
State  of  partial  Intoxication)  performed  Lady  Eufton, 
in  "  I'll  teil  you  What."  On  the  28th  equally  fo  in  the 
Marchionefs  Merida,  «  Child  of  Nature."  On  the 
•25th  February,  I  brought  forward  the  Comedy  of  the 
"  Jew,"  for  the  firft  Time  in  this  Theatre  j  and  in  the 
elegant  chalte  Character  pf  Eliza  Ratcliffe,  the  Audience 
witnefled  an  Exhibition  too  difgufttul  to  remember,  and 
too  disgraceful  to  the  Stage  to  be  dwelt  upon.  The 
general  Cry  feemed  to  be — "  She  muft  infult  us  no 
more!"  I  informed  Mr.  Hallam  of  this,  in  Company 

'i  a  Gentleman  who  has  been  long  his  Friend,  and 
both  our  Opinions  were,  that  if  Mrs.  Hallam  rifked  ano 
ther  Appearance,  the  People  would  mew  their  Refent- 
ment.  Mr.  Hallam  determined  on  withdrawing  her,  and 
begged  from  me  the  difagreeable  Office  of  communicat 
ing  to  her  the  Refolution.  I  undertook  this,  and  a 
Scene  fo  diftrefiing,  fo  harrafllng  to  the  Feelings,  I 
icarce  ever  did  witnefs,  and  hope  never  may  again.  She 
was  from  before  the  Public  one  Month,  and  the  The 
atre  progrefled  with  every  poflible  Harmony  and  Credit. 
During  this  Time,  a  Report  was  induftrioufly  circulated 
that  Laudanum  was  the  Caufe  of  Mrs.  Hallam's  frequent 
Li  capability.  The  Public  Voice  turned,  and  there  was 
aWifn  to  fee  her  again.  Convinced,  whatever  *&as  the 
Califs,  it  would  be  her  Study  in  future  to  avoid  thztparttcu- 
lv  Thing,  which  brought  herWeaknefs  before  the  Public 

e,  I  took  Advantage  of  this  PrepoflefTion,  and  told 
Mr.  Hallam  I  was  certain,  if  fhe  appeared,  me  wj&uld 
be  greatly  received.  I  did  this  becaufe  I  felt  Conviction 
her  late  Mortification  muft  have  been  a  ftrong  Monitor, 
and  poffibly  a  Reformation  muft  enfue,  both  in  Conduct 
behind  the  Scenes  and  on  the  Stage.  On  the  25th  of 

.;-ch  Hie  reaffumed  her  Profeffion  in  Lady  Teazle. 
The  feconcl  Character  me  reprefented  was  Cordelia, 

.j-ch  joth,.  in  which  fiie  was  not  perfectly  herfelf.  On 

the 


the  loth  of  April  me  performed  Louifa,  in  the  "  World 
in  a  Village,"  and  feveral  People  in  Difguft  left  the 
Theatre.  On  the  i  ith  of  May  me  performed  Mifs  Ne 
ville,  in  "  Know  your  own  Mind,"  a  Comedy  got  up 
by  me,  about  a  Fortnight  before,  for  Mrs.  H&dgkinfoifb 
Benefit.  My  Wife  dreffed  in  the  fame  Room,  and  a 
little  Time  after  Mrs.  Hallam's  Arrival,  me  commenced 
her  abufe  of  me,  and  of  the  Character  me  was  going  to 
reprefent ;  and,  looking  in  my  Wife's  Face,  cried, 
<f  Damn  the  Play ;  damn  the  Perfon  who  got  it  up,  and 
damn  the  Perfon  for  whom  it  was  got  up."  The  next 
Day  I  requefted  Mrs.  Hodgkinfon  to  quit  that  Room.  I 
then  wrote  to  Mr.  Hallam  the  following  Letter  : 

"  Sir, 

"  I  have  delayed,  till  Mrs.  Hallam's  Benefit  was  pail, 
"  communicating  my  Determination  on  our  future  Con- 
"  nection.  After  the  moft  minute  Inveftigation  on  the 
"  Poilibility  of  Friendfhip  or  Harmony  exifting,  I  find 
"  none.  There  are  Obftacles  infurmoun table.  I  have 
"  combated  them  in  Hope;  I  have  borne  them  from 
tc  fin  cere  Attachment.  When  I  became  a  Partner  in 
"  this  Theatre,  it  was  not  with  the  Hope  of  bettering 
cc  my  Situation:  It  was  to  make  it  permanent;  it  was 
cf  to  fupport,  as  far  as  I  could,  you  ;  becaufe  I  conceived 
"  you  injured  and  opprefled  by  your  former  Connection. 
"  My  Opinion  now  is^  that  whatever  might  have  been 
<c  Mr.  Henry's  other  Failings,  he  faw  you  ,your  own 
<c  Enemy,  and  was  conviuced  an  unworthy  Influence 

£  made  you  other  People's.  I  will  not  dwell  on  what, 
"  with  me,  is  fix'd  as  Fate  :  We  muft  feparate.  I  iim 
<{  anxious  to  regain  that  Peace  which  as  a  private  Indivi- 
"'dual no  Man  poffeffed  in  a  higher  Degree.  I  wiih  to 

f  refign  the  Management.  If. you  will  not  take  the 
tc  Property  on  the  Valuation  of  three  unprejudiced  Per- 
"  fons,  I  will  certainly  advertife  my  Share  to  the  higheft 
"  Bidder,  Mr.  G— "is  in  full  PolTeruon  ofmySenti- 

"  ments. 


"  ments.  I  would  wiih  you  to  advife  with  him  on  the 
"  belt  and  moil  peaceable  Mode  of  tranfacting  this  Bufi- 
"  nefs,  and  of  acquainting  our  Subfcribers  to  the  new 
"  Theatre. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  fcfr.  &c. 

"  JOHN  HODGKINSON." 

ON-  Monday,  May  iSth,  the  Comedy  of  "Which 
is  the  Man  r"  was  performed  ;  and  the  Hair-Dreflet 
v/ho  attended  Mrs.  Halldm  came  to  my  Room  to  fay 
that  it  was  impoffible  for  her  to  go  on  the  Stage  that 
Night,  for  fhe  was  fo  fenfelefs  me  could  not  fit  in  her 
Chair !  It  was  a  Benefit,  and  therefore  the  Audience 
could  not  well  be  difmiffed.  When  the  Hour  of  com 
mencing  arrived,  I  was  requefted,  three  feveral  Times, 
to  delay  the  Performance,  while  me  had  Vinegar  and 
fcrcng  Green  Tea  given,  to  reftore  her  as  much  as  pofli- 
ble.  When  fhe  did  come  forward,  let  thofe  who  wit- 
nciTed  the  Spectacle  declare  the  Shame  of  it. 

I  had  foon  after  a  Meeting  with  Mr.  Hallam,  at  the 
Houfe  of  one  of  the  more  refpectable  Characters  in  this 
City;  and  two  other  Gentlemen,  as  mutual  Friends, 
attended  to  give  their  Advice.  I  ilated  my  Grievances 
plainly  before  them,  and  they  uniformly  agreed  it  was 
impoffible  for  me  to  remain  any  longer  in  the  Theatre  if 
Mrs.  I  la  Ham  did;  and  one  of  them  obferved, — "  Mr. 

c  Ke.llam,  I  have  heretofore  been  anxious  to  fupprefs 
c<  and  do  away  Mrs.  Hallam's  Misfortune,  as  a  Calum- 
"  ny ;  but,  Sir,  I  was  prefent  at  the  Reprefentation  of 
<c  Which  is  the  :  and  when  I  law  her  come  on  the 

f  Stage,  I  immediately  left  the  Houfe  ;     and  had  any 

"  o  ,ugh  my  Heart,  it  could 

Cf  Lave  keener  Pang  than  I  felt  at  that  Mo- 

jnt.M     Mr.  Huiton  faid  he  had  no  P.eply  to  make; 

:  c  cr-u!  i  not  deny  any  Thing  I  had  averted,  and  that  he 

.ion  to  be  dreadful!     I  offered  him,  once 

more. 


more,  the  Property  on  the  fame  Terms  that  I  had  pur- 
chafed  it.  This  he  declined,  and  promifed,  before  the 
Gentlemen  who  had  interested  themfelves,  to  withdraw 
Mrs.  Hallam  from  the  Stage  totally  at  the  Conclusion  of 
the  Seafon;  commifTioning  me,  at  the  fame  Time,  to 
procure  an  Actrefs  in  her  Place  from  England.  I  wrote, 
by  the  earlkft  VefTel,  for  Mrs.  Jobnfon^  and  me  arrived 
here  on  the  firft  of  October  following.  The  Calamity 
that  afflicted  this  City  in  the  Autumn  of  1795  compelled 
us  to  make  a  Treaty  for  the  Boilon  Theatre-,  and  I  was 
not  a  little  furprifed,  while  in  Hartford,  to  hear  that  Mrs. 
Hallam  had  returned  to  the  Stage,  and  was  performing 
at  Providence,  with  Mr.  Hallam.  Some  few  Days  after 
our  arrival  in  Bofton,  Mr.  Hallam  waited  on  me,  to  fay, 
that  he  fhould  make  his  firft  EfTay  before  that  Audience 
in  Lord  Ogleby,  and  that  Mrs.  Hallam  mitft  perform  the 
Character  of  Mifs  Sterling !  I  made  no  Reply  -,  I  was 
too  much  aftonifhed  !  I  parted  with  him  to  reflect  on 
what  had  pafied.  I  made  Enquiries  of  the  Performers 
reflecting  Mrs.  Hallam's  Conduct  at  Providence.  They 
were  all  agreed  it  had,  if  poffible,  been  worfe  than  ever. 
I/elt  fhock'd  at  Mr.  Hallam's  Duplicity  :  a  manifeft  Vio 
lation  of  his  Word,  without  even  an  Attempt  at  Apolo 
gy,  without  any  Reafon  but  "  it  muft  be  fo  !"  Entire 
Strangers,  as  we  were,  a  Mifunderftanding,  immediately 
on  our  Appearance  before  the  Public,  would  have  been 
Ruin.  I  fubmitted  in  Silence.  In  the  mean  Time  I 
ftood. highly  implicated  to  Mrs.  Jobufcti,  who  had  come 
three  thoufand  Miles  to  fupply  a  Line  of  Characters  Mr. 
Hallam^  Infincerity  would  deprive  her  of.  Mrs.  Jabn- 
/c/7,  however,  with  the  greater!:  Generofity,  in  Part  re 
lieved  me,  by  faying  that  Mrs.  Hallam  rrlight  retain  all 
the  Characters  me  had  performed  :  but  that,  in  the  Ar 
rangement  of  new  Pieces,  fne  mould  exped  her  Engage 
ment  fulfilled,  by  being  given  the  elegant  Characters  in 
Comedy.  This  I  not  only  promifed,  but  ffood  pledged 
to.  My  Situation  as  Manager  now  became  more  irk- 
fome  than  ever.  Mr.  Hallam  quarrelled  with  m°  becaufe 

he 


[    ii    3 

fce  did  not  perform  many  of  the  young,  Firft  Rate  Cha 
racters,  which  he  faid  he  had  fupplied  fince  his  firft  Ar 
rival  in  Amerka,  and  that  he  had  not  refigned  them,  nor 
ever  would.  Mrs.  Hal/am  poured  on  me  every  odious 
Epithet  that  Intemperance  could  fuggeft.  An  Opportu 
nity  offered  of  releasing  myfelf  from  this  Mifery,  by  an 
Offer  of  Connection  with  the  Bofton  Theatre  ;  but,  after 
jfbme  Reflection,  my  Refpect  for  the  Patronage  I  had 
experienced  from  the  Citizens  of  New- York  determined 
me  on  not  accepting  it.  Mr.  Hallam  was  taken  ill,  and  I 
felt  fome  Alarm,  that  as  yet  he  had  never  conveyed  my 
Share  of  the  Property  to  me,  though  I  had  frequently  fo- 
licited  to  have  it  done,  and  had  paid  a  Part  of  the  Pur- 
chafe  Money.  He  recovered,  and  I  again  applied.  He 
begged  it  might  be  poftponed  till  our  Arrival  in  New- 
York.  I  agreed  reluctantly.  When  we  did  arrive  in 
New- York,  I  repeated  my  Requeft.  I  was  not  fuccefs- 
ful,  till,  finally,  I  fent  Mr.  Hallam  Word  I  would  not 
enter  the  Theatre  till  the  Deeds  were  executed.  I  got 
legal  Pofieffion  laft  March,  22  Months  after  the  Pur- 
chafe  had  been  made.  I  think  it  but  Juftice  to  declare, 
that  I  was  informed  this  Conduct  was  not  Mr.  Hallam' s 
Will,  but  that  Mrs.  Hallam  could  not  be  prevailed  on  to 
fign.  I  had  frequently  converged  with  Mr.  Dunlap^  re 
specting  my  Situation,  and  the  Torture  I  laboured  un 
der-,  and  as  I  knew  him  to  be  attached  to  the  Theatre, 
rn  one  of  our  Converfations,  I  offered  to  fell  him  Half 
my  Share,  if  he  would  undertake  the  Acting  Manage 
ment; 'for  that  I  had  more  Labour  than  the  Mind  or 
Body  could  poffibly  fuitain.  I  had  applied  to  Mr. 
Hc.llam^  to  know  what  he  meant  to  allow  me  for  my  ex 
traordinary  Fatigue,  and  he  had  peremptorily  refufed 
Compensation-,  which  I  thought  hard,  becaufe,  on 
tne  fii-ft  Commencement  of  Theatrical  Bufinefs  after 
our  Partnership,  ^  e  h:ai  paid  a  Gentleman  One  Hundred 
Pounds  for  acting  as  Treafurer  and  Book-keeper  only  ten 
Weeks,  And  here  I  hope  it  will  not  be  deemed  an  un- 
•  D'gi-'.'filon^  if  I  mention  what  my  Situation 

exactly 


[     '5    I 

exadly  was.  I  had  to  caft  and  arrange  the  Bufinefs  of 
every  Play  brought  forward.  I  had  the  various  Tem 
pers,  Rivalfhips,  and  Ambitions  of  thirty  or  forty  Peo 
ple  to  encounter  and  pleafe.  I  kept  all  the  Accounts } 
I  made  all  Difburfements,  and  was  made,  in  all  Money 
Tranfactions,  folely  refponfible.  My  profeffional  La 
bours  were  extreme,  and  I  never  finifhed  them  for  the 
Evening  that  I  did  not  attend  to  take  the  State  of  each 
Night's  Receipts.  Nay,  inftead  of  enjoying  my  com 
fortable  Hour  of  focial  Intercourfe  with  my  Family,  on 
my  Arrival  Home,  I  had  a  Check  Account  to  take,  and 
to  make  the  regular  Entries  in  my  Books.  I  wrote  and 
corrected  every  Play-Bill  for  the  Printer.  I  planned  and 
copied  every  Scene-Plot  for  the  Carpenter.  I  attended 
every  Rehearfal,  to  give  Directions.  I  went  through  a 
varied  and  extenfive  Line  of  Characters  on  the  Stage.  I 
found  principally  my  own  Wardrobe  for  them  •,  and  my 
Salary,  for  all  this,  was  twenty  Dollars  per  Week,  paid 
only  when  we  performed !  Mr.  Hallam  received  the  fame, 
and  had  no  Share  in  the  Fatigue.  His  Anfwer  to  me, 
on  Application  to  know  what  he  would  allow  me,  was^ 
that  "  he  would  quit  the  Theatre  the  Moment  any  Man 
received  a  Shilling  more  than  him."  An  idea  exceed 
ingly  unjuft;  for  at  the  Time  of  his  Purchafe  from  Jobn 
Henry,  the  Shares  were,  Mr.  Henry  Four  and  a  Half, 
Mr.  Hallam  Three  and  a  Half  j  and  when  Mr.  Hallam 
agreed  with  me,  he  referved  the  Difference:  for  the 
whole  Property  being  equally  divided  between  us,  Mr, 
Hallam  gained  a  Sixteenth  -,  as  he  paid  Mr.  Henry  no 
more  for.. Four  and  a  Half  Shares,  than  I  did  him 
(Mr.  Hallam)  for  Four  Shares. 

To  return  to  my  Narratfre :  Mr.  Dunlap  feemed  in 
clined  to  treat  with  me,  and  finally  was  introduced,  as 
Acting  Manager,  into  the  Theatre,  with  the  Concur 
rence  of  Mr.  Hallam,  and  to  receive  my  Affiftance.  I 
flattered  myfelf  I  was  now  fome  little  Diftance  removed 
from  my  Difquiets-,  but  I  was  difappointed.  Mr.  Dunlap* 

Inexperience 


[     16     J 

Inexperience  compell'd  me  ftill  to  be  the  Director  in  the 
Stage  Department,  according  to  Agreement,  and  I  never 
gave  an  Order  in  Mrs.  Hallani's  hearing  that  me  did  not 
pointedly  ridicule  and  infult  me.  My  Wife  never  pafs'd 
her,  that  me  was  not  treated  with  every  Mark  of  Con 
tempt;  and  thofe  who  may  lack  Information  on  this 
Part,  or  labor  under  a  different  Impreftion,  I  here  inform, 
that  {he  never  made  one  Word  of  Reply.  I  now  ac 
quainted  Mr.  Duniap,  it  was  impofiible  for  me  to  ftay 
and  perform  my  Agreements  with  him;  and  a  very, 
very  irkfome  and  difagreeable  Correfpondence  took 
Place,  between  us  in  Confequence:  I  offer'd  to  fell  him 
the  remaining  Share  I  held,  or  to  put  it  into  his  Hands 
as  a  Truft  and  Security,  that  he  mould  not  be  a  Lofer 
by  my  Abfence:  He  accepted  the  latter,  and  I  wrote  to 
the  Philadelphia  Managers  my  Refolution,  and  of  my 
Wifli  to  gain  a  Situation  in  their  Theatre.  They,  I 
prefume,  thought  my  Services  of  fome  Value  for  both 
arriv'd  Poft  here,  and  convers'd  perfonally  with  me  on 
the  Bufinefs.  I  afked  my  Terms,  and  to  their  Honor  let 
me  thus  publicly  declare,  I  never  did  experience  in  any 
Negociation  more  Candor  and  Liberality  •,  and  had  I  left 
New- York,  their  Acquiefcence  in  my  Demands  muft 
have  prov'd  to  me  and  my  Family  infinitely  more  valua 
ble  than  any  Thing  I  ever  did,  or  probably  may  hereafter 
attain.  About  this  Time  Mr.  Dunlap  waited  on  me,  to 
fay,  that  if  I  could  not  remain, in  the  Company,  and  per 
form  my  firft  Contracts  with  him,  he  muft  relinquifh  his 
Purchafe,  tho'  fubjected  to  very  great  Lofs  and  Incon 
venience  thereby :  He  alfo  informed  me,  he  had  written 
Mr.  Hallam,  that  Mrs.  Hallam'j  Continuance  in  the 
Ihcatre  was  an  infupcrable  Objection  to  his  making  any 
Arrangement  with  him.  I  replied,  I  eould  not — I  would 
not  ftay,  and  that  I  preferr'd  retiring  peaceably,  to 
waging  open  Controverfy  with  Mr.  Hallam ;  who,  in  my 
Opinion,  from  his  long  Services,  had  an  unquestionable 
prior  Right  to  his  Situation:, — that  I  felt  the  Injuries  of 
Mr.  Ha&im  and  his  Family  forcibly;  but  that  I  was 

better 


[     17     ] 

better  able  to  provide  for,  and  bear  the  Evils  of  Separa 
tion,  than  he  was,  and  I  would  not  retaliate.  I  relin- 
quiAYd  the  Sale  I  had  made  to  Mr.  Diinlap^  and  he  quitted 
the  Bufmefs.  On  the  iyth  of  June  laft,  I  wrote  Mr. 
llallam  the 'folio wing  Letter  : 

<c  Sir, 

"  THE  Seafon  approaching  to  a  Conclufion,  it  is 
<c  neceflary  that  the  State  in  which  our  Property  will  be 
c<  involv'd  by  a  Separation,  fhould  be  accurately  deter- 
<f  min'd  and  finally  put  to  Agreement.  Our  Continu- 
£f  ance  of  Partnerfhip  is  impoffible — and  therefore  it 
<c  behoves  both  of  us  to  promptly  act  as  mutual  Juflice 
"  may  demand  : — Repeated  Inlult  and  Injury  have 
<f  fteel'd  me  againft  further  Connection  ;  and  I  have 
"  only  left  to  make  fuch  Arrangements  as  v/ill  fecure  to 
•f  me  a  Prevention  of  total  Lofs,  in  what  I  have  taken  ib 
"  much  Pains  to  uphold  and  increafe.  You  are  not 
"  ignorant  that  the  Theatres,  belonging  to  us,  cannot  be 
"  juftly  employed  by  either  without  the  Confent  of  his 
"  equal.  It  is  not  my  Wiih  that  the  Property  mould 
"  go  to  ruin  :  I  Wifli  it  to  be  profperous :  I  have  brought 
cf  it  to  that  Permanency  and  Refpectability  that.Mifcon- 
"  duel  alone  can  make  it  otherwife.  Your  Reiburces, 
"  by  the  Return  of  Capt.  Adatnfcn,  will  be  encreafed  : 
fc  [here  follow'd  the  Names  of  fome  Performers  ex- 
"  peeled  over] — Thefe,  with  what  you  will  have  left, 
"  and  in  your  Power  to  retain,  will  form  a  good  Com- 
"  pany ; — and  the  following  are  Terms  on  which  I  will 
<{  leave  you  in  peaceable  PorTefilon  of  the  Whole,  or  on 
"  which  I  will  take  the  Management  myfelf ;  each  per- 
"c  mitting  the  other  to  make  ufe  of  his  Talents  in  any 
4t  future  Way  or  Situation  he  may  chufe.  I  will  give 
"  you  Two  Thoufand  Five  Hundred  Dollars,  fo^  the? 
u  Ule  of  your  Share  and  Property,  till  the  Firit  of  next 
"  May-j  I  taking  all  Profits  that  may  accrue  up  to  rMt 
<c  Tirr>e,  &c. — This  Agreement  relervable  only  ai  ^T- 
lc  Option  of  the  Parties. 

C  « 


t    >s    ] 

«  I  will  take  Two  Thoufand  Five  Hundred  Dollars, 
"  for  the  Ufe  of  my  Share  and  Property,  up  to  the  Day 
"  of  the  Date  above-mentioned  j  leaving  you  to  take  all 
"  Profits,  &c.  as  before  ftated. 

"  You  have  now  your  Choice,  to  adopt  or  reject  ;  orie 
(C  of  which  I  expect  will  be  determin'd  on  immediately. 


"  I  am,  Sir,  £sff. 

«  JOHN  HODGKINSON." 
New-Tcrk,     1 
June  17,  1796.  j 

Mr.  Pbilip  Ten  Eyck,  was  kind  enough  to  bear  this  Let 
ter  :andfome  Time  after  I  met  him  in  Broadway,  when  I 
was  in  Company  with  an  Agent,  who  had  arriv'd  from 
PhikdelpMa  to  complete  my  Engagements  for  that  City  : 
I  enquir'd  Mr.  Hallam^  Determination,  and  was  told  he 
wifned  fome  Days  for  Confideration.  I  inform  'd  Mr. 
Ten  Eyck,  that  my  peculiar  Situation  requir'd  an  Anfwer 
en  the  following  Morning  j  and  that  I  could  not  wait 
longer  than  that  Period.  I  urg'd  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  to  return 
to  Mr.  Hallam,  and  he  did  fo  :  Mr.  Hallam  then  pro- 
mifed  a  definitive  Anfwer  by  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  the  next  Day. 
At  the  appointed  Hour,  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  waited  on  me,  and 
found  at  my  Houfe  Mr.  Dunlc.p,  and  the  Agent  from 
Philadelphia.  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  obferved,  that  Mr.  Hallam 
h.u!  cornmiiTionedhim  to  fay,  that  c<  he  knew  the  Caufe 
<(  of  our  Differences,  but  they  mould  ceafe  ;  for  he 
<c  woiik]  withdraw  Mrs.  Hallam  from  the  Stage,  which 
tc  he  prcfumed  would  reconcile  the  Whole."  I  an- 
fv:ercd  Mr.  Ten  Eyck,  that  it  would  not  ;  that  Mrs.  Hal- 
's  being  v.irhdrav.'n  was  no  Stipulation  of  mine  ;  for 
as  IS  '  •  ;/v,  had  once  before  openly  broke  his  Word 

with  me  on  that  Score,  I  had  thought  it  needle  fs  to  men 
tion  as  a  Difficulty,  what  if  promis'd  to  be  remov'd, 

,  .1  not  be  long  maintained  :  That  Mr.  Dunlai),  I 
bu.cvcd,  had  quitted  the  Theatre,  upon  finding  it  im- 

ppffiblc 


[     19    1 

poffible  to  conduct  it  with  Propriety,  if  Mrs.  Hallam 
continued,  and  had  written  Mr.  Hallam  a  Letter  to  that 
Effecl:  That  Mr.  Hallam' s  laft  Difficulty  with  me  was, 
his  having  laid  Claim  to  many  of  the  moft  principal  and 
youthful  Characters  in  the  Drama,  which  I  thought  he 
had  refigned  long  ago,  fuch  as  Hamlet,  Ranger, 
Zanga,  Oreftes,  Benedick,  Don  John,  <oV.  &V.  and 
his  informing  Mr.  Dunlap  that  I  had  injured  him,  by 
not  giving  him  out  for  them;  but  that  now  he  expected 
them  to  be  brought  forward ;  and  that  all  that  I  wanted 
from  Mr.  Hallam  now,  was  an  Anfwer  refpecting  my 
Propofal  of  our  Property.  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  obferved,  he 
was  no  Way  privileged  to  fpeak  on  that,  as  he  had  fup- 
pofed  Mrs.  Hallam  the  great  Objection.  I  replied,  me 
was  fo;  but  remarked  again,  I  had  conceived  no  Uic 
in  mentioning  an  Impoffibility.  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  requeued 
Mr.  Dunlap  to  accompany  him  to  Mr.  Hallam  :  They 
went  together,  and,  fome  Time  after,  Mr.  Dt'.nlap  re 
turned,  with  Information,  that  Mr.  Hallam  was  not  only 
willing  to  take  Mrs.  Hallam  from  the  Stage,  but  to  leave 
the  calling  of  all  Pieces  to  his  (Dufdap's}  Judgment; 
and  that  he  was  willing  to  enter  into  Contrails,  wi:h  any 
Penalty,  for  the  Performance  of  what  mould  be  agreed 
on,  as  the  belt  Mode  to  fecure  bur  future  Peace.  I  ob 
ferved,  that,  wearied  by  my  repeated  Difcippointments,  I 
vvifhed  no  further  Connection  with  Mr.  Hallam  ;  and  that 
J  conceived  I  had  proceeded  too  far  in  my  Philadelphia 
Engagement  to  honourably  recede.  Mr.  Dunlap  dif 
fered  with  me  in  this,  and  remarked,  that  he  had  quit 
ted  a  Bufinefs,  in  Part,  to  purchafe  my  Property ;  and 
that  he  mufl  inevitably  experience  great  Lofs  by  my  De 
parture  :  That  while  he  faw  no  Profpect  of  my  Griev 
ances  being  redreiied,  he  was  content  to  fubin.it;  but, 
now  that  there  was  a  Certainty  of  their  being  remedied, 
he  mud  in  Duty  call  on  me  to  fulfil  my  Engagements 
Refthirn,  or  that  he  mould  be  compelled  to  leek  for 
my  itution  in  fome  other  Way.  Finally,  I  broke  off 
the  Philadelphia  Negociation,  and  concluded  to  remain 

once 


[     so     ] 

once  more.  Contrails  were  ordered  to  be  drawn  up ; 
and  I  inquired  of  Mr.  Dunlap,  if  Mrs.  Hallam's  Name 
V.MS  to  be  infcrted  ?  He  replied,  it  would  be  more  deli 
cate  to  omit  her  Name,  as  they  could  be  made  equally 
forcible,  without  mentioning  her.  I  applauded  the  Idea. 
The  following  are  the  Articles,  which  Mr.  Haliam  had 
three  Days  in  his  Polieffion,  previous  to  figning;  and 
they  were  made  to  extend  to  Two  Tears,  at  bis  cwn 
Requeft. 


ARTICLES  OF  AGREEMENT 
"Between  LEWIS  HALLAM,    JOHN  HODGK.INSON,    and 

DUNLAP. 


"^  \7E,  the  SUBSCRIBERS,  do  hereby  Covenant  and 
Agree,  to  exert  ourfelves  in  the  fevcral  "\Yays 
hereafter  mentioned,  for  the  mutual  Benefit  and  Profit  of 
each  other,  and  of  that  Property  known  under  the  De 
nomination  of  Property  cf  the  Old  American  Company  ; 
of  which  the  One  Half  belongs  to  Lewis  Hettam,  One 
Fourth  to  John  Hodgkirifcny  and  One  Fourth  to 


THAT  Wiliizm  Dxilcp  mail,  as  Acting  Manager  of 

the  Company,  determine,  weekly,  the  Bufincis  of  the 

coming  Week;  that  i«,  what  Plays  fhall  be  performed  ; 

(  cr  to  no  other  Ccntroul  than  the  joint  Difapproba- 

r^f  the  other  Proprietors.     That  he  (hallgf'  up  what 

new  Pieces  he  mall  think  beft,  and  in  the  Manner  he  mall 

deem  proper,    fubject  only  to  the  fame  Controul;    and 

•.hem  in  Conformity  to  his  Judgment,  and  the  Ar 

ticles  of  the  ieveral  Performers. 

THAT  Lewis  Haliam  mail  exert  himfclf  as  a  Performer 
in  all  thofe  Characters  which  he  has  performed,  on  Stock 

its,  fmce  the  Commencement  of  the  Finn  of  He.. 
and  Hcd&kitfin,    if  called  upon  fo  to  do  by  the  Acling 
Manager,  either  by  Notification  that  the  Plays  contain 
ing  fuch  Characters  will  be  performed,    or  otherv.ife  : 

That 


That  thefe  Characters  are  confidered  as  his  Property ; 
but  he  mall  not  refign  any  one  or  more  of  them,  with 
out  the  Concurrence  of  the  Acting  Manager ;  and  then 
only  into  his  Hands,  to  be  at  his  fole  Difpofal. 

THAT  Jchn  Hodgkinfon  iliall  exert  himfelf  as  a  Per 
former  in  all  thofe  Characters  which  he  has  performed, 
on  Stock  Nights,  fince  the  Commencement  of  the  Firm 
of  H 'all 'am  and  Hodgkinfon,  if  called  upon  fo  to  do  by  the 
Acting  Manager ;  either  by  Notification  that  the  Plays 
containing  fuch  Characters  will  be  performed,  or  other- 
wife  :  That  thefe  Characters  are  confidered  as  'his  Pro 
perty  j  but  he  fhail  not  refign  any  one  or  more  of  them, 
without  the  Concurrence  of  the  Acting  Manager;  and 

CI5  i_J 

then  only  into  his  Hands,  to  be  at  his  fole  Difpofal. 

THAT,  in  all  Engagements  made  with  any  Perform 
ers,  the  Acting  Manager,  and  one  of  the  other  Proprie 
tors,  mail  have  Power  to  bind  the  three;  and  no  Con 
tract  or  Engagement  mall  be  made  with  any  Perfon 
whatever,  without  fuch  Concurrence  of  the  Acting  Ma 
nager,  and  one  of  the  other  Proprietors. 

THAT  no  other  Divifion  of  the  Profits  of  the  Co- 
partnerfhip  mail  take  Place,  under  any  Appellai  on 
whatever,  than  fuch  Divifion,  or  in  fuch  Proportion  as 
now  exifts;  and  no  Alteration  whatever  mall  take  Place, 
without  the  Concurrence  of  all  the  Proprietors. 

THAT,  to  prevent  Diforder  and  Confuiion  behind  the 
Scenes,  no  Perfon  mall  be  admitted,  except  the  Per 
formers,  under  any  Pretence  whatever,  without  a  writ 
ten  PermilTion  from  the  Acting  Manager;  Servants,  &c. 
having  Tickets  for  the  Seafon. 

THAT,  in  all  Regulations  for  the  Welfare  of  the  The 
atre,  made  by  the  Acting  Manager,  with  the  Concur 
rence  of  the  other  Proprietors,  or  fuch  one  of  them  as 
fhall  be  prefent,  they  mail  confider  themfelves  on  an 
Equality  with  the  other  Performers,  except  as  more 
bound  to  a  fcrupulous  Obfervance  of  them  by  the  ftiperior 
influence  of  their  Example, 

THAT 


THAT  the  following  Plays/  The  Revenge,  Di/lrefr'd 
Mother,  Sufpicious  Hujband,  Hamlet,  Much  Ado  About 
Nothing,  and  fuch  other  of  the  old  Drama  as  have  not 
been  performed  during  the  Firm  of  Hallam  and  Hodgkin- 
Jon,  fhall  be  liable  to  the  Caft  of  the  Afting  Manager; 
Mr.  Hallam  or  Mr.  Hodgkinfon  having  no  odier  Controul 
over  fuch  Caft  than  the  Refufal  to  play  in  the  Piece,  if 
the  Character  allotted  to  either  of  them  is  fuch  as  he  mall 
object  to. 

THAT,  in  Addition  to  the  Bufmefs  of  Acting  Mana 
ger,  William  Dunlap  mail  act  as  Treafurer  and  Book 
keeper  to  the  Company. 

THAT  John  Hodgkinfon  fliall  afiift  the  Acting  Mana 
ger  by  his  Advice  and  perfonal  Aid;  and,  in  Cafe  of 
William  Dun  lap's  Sicknefs,  or  Able  nee  from  other  un 
avoidable  Caufes,  or  for  Purpofes  agreed  upon  among 
the  Proprietors,  or  a  Majority  of  them,  John  Hodgkinfon 
fhail  be  confidered  as  Acting  Manager,  and  execute  the 
Duties  of  the  Office  in  the  Place  of  William  Dunlap  ; 
receiving  from  faid  Dunlap  (in  Cafe  fuch  Abfence  fliall 
be  for  one  or  more  Weeks)  that  Salary  which  he  receives 
as  Acting  Manager. 

T,  in  Cafe  of  any  Default  on  the  Part  of  either  or 
any  of  the  Subfcribers.  within  the  Term  of  two  Ye'ars, 
from  the  fir  ft  Day  of  M«iy,  1796,  they  dofeverally  bind 
thtmfelves  in  the  Penalty  of  Four  Thoufand  Pounds, 
lawful  Money  of  the  State  of  New- York,  to  be  forfeited 
Ly  fuch  Breach  of  this  Agreement. 

THAT,  in  Cafe  any  of  the  Subfcribers  fhould  deter 
mine  on  felling  the  Whole,  or  any  Part,  of  their  Divi- 
fion  of  die  above-mentioned  Property,  within  the  above- 
named  Time,  the  Party  fo  vifhing  to  fell,  fhali  give  the 
Offer,  or  Refufal,  to  the  other  Party  or  Parties,  at  a 
Price  to  lv  r.;  ;tecl  on  by  them,  cr  to  be  determined  by 
three  indifferent  Ptrfons,  clioftn  by  the  respective 
Pan: 

I   /.vis  HALLAM.          (L.S.) 
JOHN   HGDGKINSCN.   (L.S.) 

Yv  1  L  L  1  A  > !     D  U  N  L  A  P .      (L.S.) 


C   '3    1 

IN  the  Courfe  of  the  prefent  Winter,  Mr.  Hallum  has 
appeared  much  diflatisfied.  It  was  many  Times  ru 
moured  that  he  intended  to  force  his  Wife  on  the  Stage: 
But  about  the  9th  or  loth  of  February,  Mr.  Dunlap  in 
formed  me,  that  Mr.  Hallam  had  called  on  him,  to  let 
him  know  that  Mrs.  Hallam  ought  to  be  engaged :  And 
on  Mr.  Dunlap's  replying,  that  he  thought  "  that  Mat 
ter  had  been  iettled  in  June  laft,"  had  only  anfwered  by 
charging  me  with  fending  him  in  an  Account  of  Money 
due  to  me  j  and  by  afferting  the  Injuries  done  to  his 
Wife;  concluding  with  faying,  that — he  had  prevented 
Difturbanccs  in  the  Theatre ;  but  he  would  do  Jo  no  longer. 

ABOUT  the  i4th  of  February,  Mr.  Dunlap  informed 
me  that  he  had  waited  on  Mr.  Hal/am,  having  requefted 
a  Gentleman  to  witnefs  the  Converfation;  when  Mr. 
Hallam  confirmed  the  above  Determination;  and,  on 
being  reminded  of  his  Engagements,  faid,  <(  I  did  tell 
Mr.  Ten  Eyck  that  I  would  withdraw  Mrs.  Hallam, — but 
I  did  not  fay  for  how  long:"  That  he  told  Mr.  Hallam 
that  he  mould  confider  his  Attempt  to  force  Mrs.  Hallant 
on  the  Stage  as  a  Violation  of  the  Articles;  and  was  an 
fwered,  he  might  THINK  as  he  p  leafed :  That  he  told  Mr. 
Hallam  j  that  if  there  was  any  Difturbance  in  the  The 
atre,  on  Account  of  Mrs.  Hallam3  after  the  Avowal  that 
(he  had  waited  upon  a  Number  of  Ladies,  who  had 
cfpouled  her  Quarrel,  he  mould  confider  him  (Hallam) 
as  the  Caufe  ;  and  was  anfwered,  he  might  THINK,  as  he 
pleafed:  That  on  faying  he  (Dunlap)  muft  take  Mea- 
fures  for  the  Security  of  his  Property,  he  was  anfwered, 
he  might  DO  as  he  pleafed. 

FINDING  that  the  DiiTatisfactions  of  Mr.  Hallam  con 
tinued  ;  hearing  that  he  intended  to  introduce  his  Wife 
on  the  Stage,  during  the  Benefits;  and  convinced  that 
the  Diffoludon  of  the  Company  muft  be  the  Confe- 
quence,  to  the  great  Injury  of  the  Performers,  as  well 
as  of  the  Proprietors;  I  determined,  with  the  Qoncur- 
rence  of  Mr.  Dunlap,  and  the  Advice  of  Gentlemen 
whom  I  fuppofed  Mr.  Ha/lam's  Friends,  to  make  him 

Propofals 


t   H  J 

Fropofals  that  might  prevent  Violence,  and  terminate 
all  Differences  to  his  Satisfaction.  Many  Modes  were 
premifed  by  thefe  Friends,  and  they  can  vouch  I  did 
not,  I  would  not  iiften  to  any,  that  had  not  for  its  End 
the  future  Comfort  and  Independence  of  Mr.  liallam. — 
With  this  View  the  following  Letter  was  fent  to  him : 

cc  March  ijfb,   1797. 

«  MR.   L.    HAL  LAM, 
"  Sir, 

"  YOU  having  declared  to  me  your  Readinefs  to  fell 
C£  your  Theatrical  Property,  at  the  fame  Time  that  you 
ec  exprefled  your  great  Diffatisfaction  of  the  Arrange- 
te  ment  made  laft  June,  by  which  I  became  connected 
<£  in  Bufinefs  with  you,  I  am  induced  to  make,  with  the 
"  Advice  and  Approbation  of  Mr.  Hodgkinjbn,  the  follow- 
"  ing  Propofals: 

"  THAT  Lewis  Hallam  mail  fell  his  Theatrical  Pro- 
"  perry,  known  by  the  Name  of  "  Property  of  the  Old 
<£  AmericarL  Company,"  at  fuch  Price,  and  on  fuch 
"  Terms,  as  may  be  hereafter  determined;  quitting,  by 
"  fuch  Sale,  all  Claim  or  Title  whatfoever  on  faid  Com- 
"  pany  or  Property,  to  William  Dunlap  and  John  Hodg- 
<£  kinfon-y  they  giving  fatisfactory  Security  for  the  Ful- 
<c  filment  of  the  Terms  of  Sale ;  and,  moreover,  agree- 
<£  ing  to  pay  to  Lewis  Hallam  One  Fourth  of  tbePrcfits  arif- 
"  ing  from  the  Exhibitions  of  faid  Company  y  in  any  Part 
"  of  the  United  States  of  America,  or  any  Denomination 
*f  wbatfoever,  during  the  P cried  of  the  natural  Life  of 
"  Lewis  Hal/am,  to  be  'paid  yearly ',  en  the  firft  Day  cf 
"  May:  And  this  in  Confideration  of  the  Good-Will  of 
<c  the  faid  Lewis  Hallam  toward  laid  Property  or  Eufi- 
<£  nefs,  according  to  the  Ufage  of  Men  retiring  and 
*£  giving  up  any  fixed  Bufinefs  to  other  Men." 

"  IF  ^thefe  Propofals  appear  to  you  fo  far  reafonable 
cc  as  to  ferve  for  the  Ground- Work  of  Arrangements, 
"  more  fatisfadory  to  all  the  Parties  concerned,  it  will 
<£  give  great  Satisfaction  to 

«  W.  DUNLAP." 


To  this  Letter  Mr.  Dunlap  received  no  Anfwer,  ex 
cept,  that,  in  a  Converfation  which  took  Place  between 
Mr.  Hal/am  and  me,  on  (I  think)  the  2Oth  of  March, 
he  laid,  he  did  not  know  that  he  mouldy*?//  bis  Property 
at  all;  and,  if  he  accepted  a  Sinecure,  it  muft  not  only 
be  a  certain^  but  a  large  one !  On  being  afked  how  he 
could  expect  a  large  Certainty  ?  he  replied,  the  United 
States  were  peculiarly  fituated :  A  war  might  take 
Place,  and  the  Theatres  be  either  fhut  up,  or,  from 
Diftrefs,  deferted. 

ON  Saturday,  March  the  25th,  the  following  Rules 
were  put  up  in  the  Green  Room,  at  the  Theatre  : 

REGULATIONS  for  the  OLD  AMERICAN  COMPANY 
at  the  ENSUING  BENEFITS. 

HPHE  Nights  on  which  BenefitPlays  will  be  performed, 
to  be  thrown  for  in  two  Clafies  as  on  the  laftSealbn. 

ANY  Performer  giving  Notice  after  this  Date,  to  the 
Acting-Manager  for  the  Time  being,  of  his  or  her  Wifli 
to  get  up  any  new  Piece,  on  his  or  her  Night,  will  obtain, 
by  fuch  Notice,  a  prior  Right  to  fuch  new  Piece. 

No  Piece  Ihall  be  performed  in  any  Manner,  other 
than  as  caft  by  the  Acting-Manager  for  the  Time  being; 
that  Caft  to  be  obtained  previous  to  advertiiing  the  Piece. 

No  Bill  to  be  publimed  until  fubmitted  to  the  Cor 
rection  of  the  Acting- Meager  for  the  Time  being,  and 
his  Confent  obtained. 

No  Perforj,  not  under  Engagements  as  a  Performer  in 
the  Company,  mall  be  permitted  to  play  on  any  Benefit- 
Night  without  the  Confent  of  the  Acting-Manager  for 
the  Time  being,  and  one  of  the  other  Proprietors. 

No  Performer  can  be  required  to  ftudy  more  than  four 
Lengths,  from  Play-Night  to  Play-Night,  and  in  the 
fame  Proportion  for  a  longer  Time. 

JOHN  HODGKINSON. 
WILLIAM  DUNLAP. 
D 


E    «6;  3 

ON  the  Monday  Evening  following,  Mr.  Hallam  came 
into  my  Drcflfmg-Room,  and  told  me  he  did  not  chufe 
to  comply  with  thofe  Rules.  I  told,  him  I  was  lorry  to 
hear  it,  and  that  I  fuppofed  he  could  not  violate  them, 
•without  violating  alfo  the  Contracts  that  exifted  between 
us  !  He  replied,  he  chofe  to  violate  them,  and  that  he 
had  torn  them  down,  and  let  us  at  Defiance. 

THE  Wednefday  following,  the  Tranfaction  teok 
Place  which  I  have  briefly  ftated  as  the  Motive  for  this 
Narrative,  in  which  I  truft  it  will  appear, — ift,  That, 
by  Articles  entered  into  voluntarily  by  Mr.  Hallam,  the 
Purport  of  which  was  known  to  him,  and  to  which  he 
was  explicitly  advifed  by  his  Friends,  Mrs.  Haltam  had  no 
Right  to  come  on  the  Stage,  or  Mr.  Hallam  to  demand  it : 
—id.  That  Mrs.  Hallam  had  not  been  withdrawn  by  any 
Stipulation  of  mine,  at  the  Time  of  the  prefent  Agree 
ment  :  but  by  Mr.  Hallam 's  own  free  Offer  and  apparent 
Conviction,  that  her  Conduct  had  made  it  improper  for 
her  to  remain '  before  the  Public,  and  Impoflible  for  a 
reipectable  Stage  to  be  where  fhe  was  a  Performer: — 
jd,  That  Mr.  Hallam,  in  favouring  the  Attempt  to  re 
produce  Mrs.  Hallam  on  the  Stage,  and  in  attempting 
himfelf  to  introduce  her ;  as  well  as  by  tearing  down  the 
Regulations  of  the  Acting-Manager ;  has  not  only  vio 
lated  his  Contracts,  but  treated  the  Public  with  Difre- 
fpect,  and  the  other  Proprietors  with  Injuftice. 

IN  Regard  to  the  Proceedings  of  the  spth  and  31  ft  of 
March,  I  can  only  obferve,  the  Prejudice  and  Mifrepre- 
icntation  that  unhappily  prevailed,  have  compelled  me  to 
the  moft  •painful  and  irk/bme  Mode  of  juflifying  myfe If— 
that  of  expofmg  m  fitiy  T  ran  factions^  to  public  View, 
which  none  but  the  Parties  concerned  ever  ought  to  have 
been  made  acquainted  with,  or  interefted  in  ;  and  I  truft 
my  prior  Determinations  of  quitting  my  Situation,  rather 
than  make  this  Expofure,  will  convince  every  Reader, 
the  Differences  ftated  would  never  have  been  known 
thro'  me,  had  not  every  Means  been  tried  to  render  my 
Conduct  completely  odious  to  the  Parties,  who  came 

forward 


forward  on  this  Occafion,  that  Calumny  could  fugg- 
I  have  been  made  accountable  for  an  Action  I  was  not 
concerned  in,  or  in  my  Power  folely  to  remedy !  as  a 
fecond  Perufal  of  our  Contracts  will  convince.  It  has  been 
alfo  afiferted,  that  Mr.  Hallam  only  applied  to  have  Mrs. 
Ha/lam  perform  at  his  Benefit :  This  is  not  a  Fact. — 
Mr.  HALLAM  has  never  made  any  Application,  but  that 
to  Mr.  Dunlatj  in  which  he  dated  Mrs.  HALLAM  ought 
to  be  engaged  in  the  Company  !  His  Son  applied  on  his 
own  Account,  but  M.r.Hallam,  fen.  was  never  mentioned. 

I  beg  Leave  alib  further  to  remark,  that  the  Situation 
I  was  placed  in  was  fo  peculiarly  trying,  none  but  an 
Actor,  or  a  Perfon  who  has  made  himfelf  refponfible  for 
a  'well  regulated  Entertainment,  can  poflibly  feel  or  judge. 

I  was  received  for  the  firft  Time  in  my  Life,  with 
pointed  difapprobation,  before  I  could  even  fpeak.  A 
Perfon  who  had  no  Connection  with  the  Stage,  whofc 
own  Faults  had  defervedly  banimed  her  from  it — was 
called  for — was  fecreted — ready  to  burtl  forward — was 
protected — fupported  by  her  own  Hufband,  in  direct 
Violation  of  his  moil  folemn  Contracts — was  allowed  to 
add  re  is  the  Audience — and  I  not  fuffered  to  explain  or  to 
defend  myfelf,  when  I  was  the  Party,  and  the  only  Party 
injured  !  If,  at  fuch  a  Crifis,  I  betrayed  any  improper 
Marks  of  Impatience,  I  truft  they  were  fuch  as  few 
Men  could  refrain  from,  under  fuch  diftreffing  Cir- 
cumftances. 

THE  Situation  of  a  Theatrical  Performer  feems  here 
to  be  peculiarly  unfortunate  :  Strong  Prejudices  are  en 
tertained  againil  the  Profeflion,  and  againfl  the  Drama 
itfelf,  by  many.  There  are  alfo  thofe  who  confide r 
Actors  as  Public  Slaves,  who  are  to  have  no  Will  of  their 
own,  but  are  bound  to  be  the  obedient  and  fubmiflive 
Victims  of  their  Caprice  ;  and  fo  wide  is  the  Prepoifcilion 
againft  the  Calling,  that  many  look  upon  an  Actor  as 
Something  different  from  his  fellow  Men. 

IN  Confequence  of  thefc  Prejudices,  that  is  deemed 
Injolencs  in  an  Actor,  which  would  fcarcely  be  called 

Spirit 


[     "-8     ] 

Spirit  in  anotherMan  ;  and  thus  a  Profeflion,  which,  to 
excel  in,  requires  the  Union  of  many  Taleats  and  Ac- 
compliihments,  and  in  particular  Feeling.,  the  ProfefTor, 
on  fome  Occafions,  is  not  allowed  to  feel  at  all.  But  this 
is  certainly  unjuft:  Refentment  ihould  always  be  mea- 
i  11  red  by  the  Nature  of  the  Injury,  not  the  Profi'jfion,  of 
the  Individual.  I  felt  myfelf  aggrieved  :  I  was  not  al 
lowed  to  defend  myfelf:  Few  Men  are  fo  much  Mafters 
of  their  Temper,  as  to  conduct  with  perfect  Propriety  in 
fuch  Circumftances  !  I  might  fail  in  this  ;  if  I  did,  it  mutt 
be  alcribed  to  the  peculiar  Irritation  of  the  Moment ;  for 
I  hope  I  icarce  need  add,  I  could  never  entertain  an  Idea, 
of  treating  with  indecorum,  that  Public,  from  whom  I 
have  receiv'd  the  moil  conitant  and  flattering  Marks  of 
Approbation — to  whole  Juftice  I  now  make  my  laft  Ap 
peal  :  Whole  Candor  will,  I  am  convinced,  acquit  me 
after  this  hearing,  and  whole 

Grateful  and  ever  obedient  Servant 
I  am, 

JOHN  HODGKINSON. 

Neiv-York,      "| 
1797.  / 


ERRATA. 

Page  5 — end  cf  Line  nth,  for  "  offered"  read /;.•/£ 
Pa^je.17 — ^  Line  but  one,  for  "  relervable"  read 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


f  \^      -v   i    tr  this  public  Inftrument,  be  it  known  t» 

of  New-York,/.  J}   all  whom  the  fame  doth  ormay  concern, 

That  I,  Charles  Bridgen,  a  Public  Notary,  in  and  for  the  State  of  New- 
York,  by  Letters  Patent  under  the  Great  Seal  of  the  faid  State,  duly 
commiflioned  and  fworn  ;  and  in  and  by  the  faid  Letters  Patent  invefted 
"  With  full  Power  and  Authority  to  atteft  Deeds,  Wills,  Teftaments, 
Codicils,  Agreements,  and  other  Inftruments  in  writing,  and  to  admi- 
nifterany  Oath  or  Oaths,  to  any  Perfon  or  Perfons,  do  hereby  certify, 
That  on  the  Day  of  the  Date  of  thefe  Prefents,  before  me  perfonally 
came  and  appeared,  Mr.  JOHN  HODGKINSON,  who  being  by  me  duly 
fworn,  did  depofe  and  fay,  That  all  and  every  of  the  Fafts  ftated  by 
him  in  his  Narration  of  his  Connexion  with  the  Old  American  Company 
are  juft  and  true,  according  to  the  beft  of  his  Knowledge  and  Belief. 

Whereof  an  Atteftation  being  required,  I  have  granted  this  under 
my  Notarial  Firm  and  Seal ;  and  the  faid  John  Hodgkitifon  hereunto 
fubfcribed  his  Name. 

Done  at  the  City  of  New-York,  in  the  faid  State  of '  New-York,  the 
fifteenth  Day  of  April,  in  the  Year  One  Thoufand  Seven  Hundred 
and  Ninety -fe-ven. 

Quod  Atteftor. 

CHARLES  BRIDGEN, 
JOHN  HODGKINSON.  (Notary  Public. 

N^O<>O>O<>O<>©<>O<O<O»O»O<O^ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


DCT1T1972 


MAR  1 5  19< 


Form  L9-407n-7,'56(C790s4)444 


LIBRARY 

Y  OF  CALIFORNIA 
{X>3  ANGELES 


$ 


lorjm 

PAMPHLET  BINDER 

Syracuse,  N     Y. 
Stockton,  Calif. 


L  006  615  355  2 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


AA      000031  098  7 


